Youngsters explore 'cool' science

Published 7:00 pm, Monday, March 22, 2010

Photo: Tim Fischer

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Youngsters explore 'cool' science

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Simulating satellites, finding out why stars twinkle, identifying planets and learning about nutrition are just a few of the things 33 youngsters learned about at the recent Mad Science Spring Break Camp.

Kids from schools across Midland participated in the camp, held for the first time this year, at Midland College.

Age range was kindergarten through sixth grade and youngsters were divided into groups of kindergarten through third and third through sixth. Mad Science owner Dianne Anderson said her group "adds the color to science because it's hands on."

"We're not just talking. Everything they get to do is hands on where they can understand," Anderson said.

The students have lunch with their morning groups and then the older and younger groups switch.

Brittany Duncan, a theater and speech coach at Lee Freshman High School, on Thursday taught a section titled Mission Nutrition where kids learned about the different food groups, starches and healthy foods.

"You have to be careful you're not eating too much fat and oil," she said.

On the meats and proteins front, Duncan asked if anyone liked fish. "I like pink salmon because it makes you grow and it doesn't make your legs hurt," Greathouse Elementary School second-grader Doug Brodie said.

Tad Guebara, a first-grader at Fannin Elementary School, and Ethan Thames, a first-grader at Scharbauer Elementary, said learning about the cosmos is best. "It's all been really fun because we've gotten to learn about space," Tad said.

Bush Elementary School second-grader Jaisheekus Jennings said she's learned "heat molecules don't like to be by each other."

"They try to go away from each other," Jaisheekus said. "And magnets when you hit them on the ground, the electrons go everywhere and scatter. They're not in straight lines."

Jody Savoie teaches the NASA/space courses and her students learned about satellites, planets, comets and other space phenomena. Students used flashlights as the sun, mirrors as satellites and rubber globes as Earth.

Savoie switched the lights off in the classroom of the Technology Center to simulate the effect. She began working for Mad Science in January and before that was a science teacher for four years, including time at Midland High School.

"This is an awesome group of kids. They listen, they follow directions and they're excited about being here," Savoie said.

Hannah Armstrong, a third-grader from Santa Rita Elementary School, and Trinity School third-grader Sue Simha say the courses are "cool" and "awesome."

"The teachers are really nice," Hannah said.

Washington Math & Science Institute sixth-grader Krista Epley said they get to "build a lot of stuff."

"And we also get to make friends," Greathouse third-grader Jessica Libenson said.

Duncan said youngsters are "getting really great exposure to good instruction" through the camp. "It's fun. I get to see kids in a different atmosphere," Duncan said. "It's not school, but we can still learn. I started out teaching elementary school. It's kind of fun to see the little ones."

Anderson said parents are looking for an alternative to day care when spring break rolls around because they may not be able to take off when their kids can. The fun, educational alternative, she said, is Mad Science.

An unexpected benefit is how well students have gotten along, she said.

"They're not cliquish," Anderson said. "They have just really come together — both groups the younger group and the older group. It's been really fun to watch them."

Anderson expressed appreciation to Midland College for its help in putting on the camp.

"We're glad that we had two classes," Anderson said. "We were prepared for five, but we didn't know with it being the first time (it's been offered). I think next year will even be better. Midland College is such an incredible institution" facilitating the camp and providing support.